Future of training: Virtual, augmented and mixed reality Showcase guide
#Immersiveintraining November 2018 - March 2019
“There is increased interest in immersive content to revolutionise training across the creative industries, manufacturing and beyond. By transporting people, immersive training can replicate dangerous scenarios, improve career skills and account for implicit biases.
This showcase will shine a light on six immersive companies creating engaging and innovative content to revolutionise the way we train.”
Rebecca Gregory-Clarke Head of Technology – Immersive, Digital Catapult
3 Immersive technologies have been used for training in some form for nearly a century. Spawned by an urgent need to train large numbers of aviators during World War One, flight simulators were developed for commercial aviation in 1915. A device was created to measure the reaction times of pilots in correcting disturbances. In the ensuing century, other uses followed in healthcare to improve operating room performance and more recently, in the automotive industry to cut costs whilst creating quality products.
Fast forward to today, training which Corporate heavyweights have started uses innovative and exciting forms of to explore this technology; in 2017, emerging immersive technologies – KFC launched ‘The Hard Way - a augmented reality (AR), virtual reality KFC Virtual Training Escape Room’, (VR) and mixed reality (MR) – is a 25 minute virtual reality experience becoming increasingly more common requiring participants to correctly across a variety of markets. These prepare fried chicken to escape a new immersive experiences, create darkened ranch. This year, Walmart the opportunity to transport people has been using immersive training into an environment or situation where to improve employees’ capability to they are enveloped and engaged more provide good in-store experiences. Its deeply than previously possible. It research has found that VR learning is a powerful tool that increases the improves employee retention of retention of what is learned through new information by 10 to 15 percent memorable and meaningful compared to the typical combination learning experiences. of videos, online demos, and classroom work.1
4 Similarly, Accenture is using VR Secondly, immersive can help learning to train employees by companies account and manage analysing consumer-data driven implicit or explicit biases. It is possible insights to immerse financial services to experience multiple perspectives employees in real-life work and over a scenario and increase empathy customer scenarios.2 These for a group or individual that the companies are investing in this participant previously held technology and highlighting that biases against. even with the costs of headsets for hundreds of employees, immersive Finally, another emerging use for training content has a measurable training with immersive is to improve positive impact on employee career skills, which could include performance. By doing and not merely negotiation or public speaking. observing at a multi-sensory level, more information is retained for longer The UK has been particularly periods of time. innovative in creating immersive training content. Digital Catapult’s There are three main circumstances market research demonstrates that where immersive training can play a there are well over 50 companies significant role: creating immersive training content for enterprise. The demand for this Firstly, immersive is useful for content is ever-increasing and six replicating dangerous and complex companies will form part of Digital scenarios. It is not always possible or Catapult’s first Future of Training safe to train ‘in situ’ and companies are showcase, which will run from 29 finding that immersive is an ideal way November 2018 to 29 March 2019. to replicate that experience; example scenarios could include operating heavy, complicated machinery or mediating a crowd.
1. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/15/18092456/walmart-virtual-reality-black-friday-vr 2. https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/insight-vr-learning-video-fs
5 6 FUTURE OF TRAINING SHOWCASE
We are delighted to announce Digital Catapult’s Future of Training showcase, where after a competitive selection process, we welcome six companies creating training content using either AR, VR and MR. The companies forming this showcase are all transforming training for industry and their content will be showcased in all of our labs across the UK until March 2019.
COMPANIES
Clicks and Links 8
Daden 10
KIT-AR 12
Mativision 14
SmartDS 16
Unit 9 18
7 Clicks and Links specialises in immersive technology. It has been focusing on bringing the exciting potential of VR to new industries. The organisation has carried out virtual inspection work with infrastructure projects in rail and nuclear decommissioning and has developed a range of immersive training experiences.
Clicks and Links Ltd
Headquarters: Website: Manchester, UK www.clicksandlinks.com
Company Number: Email: 402910 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Technology Vin Sumner, CEO [email protected]
8 MARKET POSITION PRODUCT In terms of training, Clicks and Links is i360 is a custom, immersive video trying to raise the level of engagement experience tailored to customers’ and knowledge retention. needs. Whether clients want to create an application for training staff or something to showcase work, Clicks and Links has it covered. The award nominated i360 application takes businesses to the next level.
i360 has been used to build applications for the Co-op, EDF Energy and Murphy construction. It also allows the client to create and edit their own application without any programming expertise.
i360 can deploy to smart phones, Oculus – Go, Vive and Rift as well as desktop and web.
9 Daden’s Trainingscapes VR is an authoring tool for immersive VR training content that lets educators create and share engaging, effective and informative training through 3D lessons and experiences. Content can be accessed through 3D, VR (such as Oculus Rift), smartphones and tablet computers.
Daden Ltd
Headquarters: Website: Birmingham, UK www.daden.co.uk
Company Number: Email: 5254033 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Technology Dr Darrell J Smith, Project Manager
10 MARKET POSITION The power of immersive learning Trainingscapes exercises can is becoming accepted, however, be accessed in a variety of ways the ability to create training content including 3D, VR (such as Oculus Rift), requires specialist skills normally smartphones and tablet computers. beyond most trainers. Trainingscapes’ Once an exercise is downloaded it easy-to-use editor allows trainers and does not need internet access - so subject matter experts to create their Trainingscapes can be used on site, at own training exercises on any topic, home, on the bus or on the train. at any level, allowing training to be delivered in single or multi-user modes, Recent projects include: and to desktops, tablets or mobile, Nursing and Midwifery Training including 3D and VR. (with Bournemouth University). Bournemouth University have developed a number of exercises PRODUCT in Trainingscapes to help train their Trainingscapes VR is Daden’s midwifery and nursing students. authoring tool for VR training content. Trainingscapes allows educators Virtual Avebury is (with National Trust to create and share engaging, and Bournemouth University) where effective and informative training Trainingscapes was used to create through 3D lessons and experiences. VR in heritage communication and Trainingscapes includes a user outreach. As a multi-user system users generated library of locations and can even go in as a group to examine objects, and an easy-to-use 3D editor and discuss the site. that lets anyone create a 3D or VR immersive learning experience for almost any subject, level or language. Trainingscapes allows users to learn in locations that bring real context, engagement and freedom to their training.
11 Increase productivity and reduce errors with KIT-AR’s intelligent step-wise AR instructions that proactively react to the actions of workers.
KIT-AR
Headquarters: Website: London, UK www.kit-ar.com
Company Number: Email: 11546990 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Technology Manuel Oliveira, Co-Founder [email protected]
12 MARKET POSITION The skills gap in manufacturing KIT-ASSIST supports untrained is widening with 10 million jobs workers to perform like experts by worldwide going unfilled (two million providing the right information at in the US alone) due to retirement the right time. This functionality of the boomer generation, the shift is enhanced with one or more in the skills required in response to KIT-SMART modules, which exploits a advances in technology and market set of cues that captures a contextual economic expansion. As a result, understanding of the workplace and the manufacturing industry will not decides what intervention to trigger meet the demands of the globalised in real-time. The combination of market catering to the ever increasing KIT-ASSIST and KIT-SMART increases demand on product personalisation productivity and reduces mistakes. whilst lacking the capability to handle the increased complexity of products The KIT-BUILD provides the means to and the associated manufacturing generate and manage the AR-based processes. Studies report that a US work instructions for the KIT-ASSIST, manufacturer is losing an average using a predefined annotation library $3,000 per existing employee due to with consistent symbology. a shortage of skills and a further loss of $14,000 per unfilled position. These Since the KIT components perform losses are similar in the EU and will a comprehensive analysis of user only increase over the next 5-10 years. action to drive the augmentations, a suitably curated subset of information PRODUCT can be used to provide new insights KIT-AR is an end-to-end system which into operations and processes. The consists of four major components: KIT-INSIGHT provides decision making KIT-ASSIST, KIT-SMART, KIT-INSIGHT support for workplace optimisation. and KIT-BUILD.
13 London based Mativision has produced immersive experiences for global brands since 2012. The company is the world leader in VR-Live streaming. Its clients come from live entertainment to enterprise training and medical education, and include Facebook, Google, Samsung, FOX, MTV, Universal, Warner Bros, Vodafone, Unilever.
Mativision
Headquarters: Website: London, UK www.mativision.com
Company Number: Email: 7901365 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Healthcare Anthony Karydis, Managing Director
14 MARKET POSITION PRODUCT Mativision makes high-level Mativision delivers group based, specialist training available to less synchronised immersive interactive privileged geographies or to groups training both online and locally. of people with limited access to such It delivers training to groups of education and training. It improves professionals by immersing them in the effectiveness of group training. operating theatres and real situations presented as first person experiences.
15 SmartDS believes that technology can empower and enrich peoples’ lives. By using holograms in mixed reality, it delivers safer, more effective training and visualisation tools at a lower cost for clients in sectors as diverse as engineering, health, pharmaceutical, training, insurance, education and leisure.
SmartDS Ltd
Headquarters: Website: Manchester, UK www.smartds.co.uk
Company Number: Email: 5753713 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Technology Lynne Jones, Marketing Manager [email protected]
16 MARKET POSITION PRODUCT SmartDS’ clients need to deliver Mixed reality is a next generation training or share information regarding experience driven by the real world products, locations, tools, situations presence of ‘intelligent virtual objects’ and data. They operate in areas where enabling people to interact with these the cost, speed, danger, complexity, objects within their real world field regulation or simply the poor quality of view. of tools prevents them from doing this effectively. Through the use of SmartDS is building both the tools and mixed reality and its MR design suite, services needed to deliver and analyse SmartDS can now help clients to see mixed reality solutions. new products before they are built, train on equipment and assets, see how drugs work and inform patients about procedures and issues.
17 UNIT9 is one of the leading multidisciplinary production companies working in different interactive areas: films, games, virtual reality and digital technology. Founded in 1997, UNIT9 operates globally with offices in London, Los Angeles, New York, Florence, Berlin and Poland.
Unit9
Headquarters: Website: London, UK www.unit9.com
Company Number: Email: 3279060 [email protected]
Sector: Contact: Technology Valerio Rossi, Innovation Producer [email protected]
18 MARKET POSITION PRODUCT Unit9 produces multimedia UNIT9 is an innovative production production, innovation and studio. It believes in people and talent immersive experiences. to create and craft and believes in tools and methodology to achieve and deliver.
The UNIT9 studio is a breeding ground of disciplines with a common vision to achieve ground breaking marketing experiences and create new audiences.
Its talent roster includes film directors, innovation architects, product designers, software engineers, art directors, designers and producers – all delivering installations, events, social films, VR content, games and digital campaigns.
19 DIGITAL CATAPULT AND OUR WORK IN IMMERSIVE:
Immersive (AR/VR/MR) is one of Digital Catapult’s core focus areas and we offer a portfolio programme geared towards making the UK the best place in the world to create immersive content and applications.
Recent technological advances, coupled with significant global investment has increased the appetite for VR and AR solutions for businesses and consumers alike. As a result, companies of all sizes are moving into this exciting area from a range of industry sectors. The challenge now is to build upon the UK’s wealth of knowledge and skill, to bring together this growing ecosystem. This will drive forward the game-changing innovations that will make the UK the best place in the world to create immersive content and applications.
Digital Catapult offers facilities such as Dimension and the Immersive Labs. Our Immersive Labs are an expanding network of facilities equipped with a range of the latest augmented and virtual reality hardware available for hire by businesses, academia and corporates. Dimension is a volumetric video and 3D capture studio, equipped with over 190 cameras, this studio was launched in collaboration with Hammerhead and Microsoft.
Digital Catapult also runs innovation programmes including Augmentor and CreativeXR. Augmentor is a ten-week mentorship programme for early-stage immersive companies creating commercially focused products. CreativeXR is a programme in partnership with Arts Council England to help creatives unlock the potential of immersive content.
20 21 Space and equipment to help your company grow
BOOK THE LABS BOOK THE LABS TO bit.ly/book-the-lab • Demo your content or technology to Digital Catapult’s immersive mission is to create the perfect ecosystem for the development of clients or partners immersive content and applications. We aim to do this, with the help of a national network of • Access specialist Immersive Labs across the country. They act as hubs kit for testing or that foster the growth of immersive startups and development scaleups and educate interested parties about how immersive technologies are developing in their sectors. • Host immersive related meetups, Our growing network includes Labs in London, Brighton, Belfast workshops and and the North East Tees Valley. events Learn about how immersive technology is transforming your sector www.digicatapult.org.uk/immersive-labs Digital Catapult Digital Catapult is the UK’s leading Digital Catapult provides physical and advanced digital technology innovation digital facilities for experimentation centre, driving early adoption of and testing that would otherwise not technologies to make UK businesses be accessible for smaller companies. more competitive and productive to grow the country’s economy. As well as breaking down barriers to technology adoption for startups and We connect large established scaleups, our work de-risks innovation companies, startup and scaleup for large enterprises and uncovers new businesses and researchers to commercial applications in immersive, discover new ways to solve big future networks, and artificial challenges in the manufacturing intelligence technologies. and creative industries. Through this collaboration businesses are For more info please visit supported to develop the right www.digicatapult.org.uk technologies to solve problems, increase productivity and open up new markets faster. Digital Catapult 101 Euston Road London, NW1 2RA 0300 1233 101 www.digicatapult.org.uk
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